Behind the Scenes of The Witcher 3: How CDPR Overcame Open-World Narrative Challenges

In a recent interview, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, former lead quest designer for The Witcher 3, discussed CD Projekt Red's initial concerns about combining a sprawling narrative with an open-world design.

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Tomaszkiewicz noted the ambitious undertaking of merging extensive storytelling techniques, typically found in linear RPGs like The Witcher 2, into an open-world setting. This was largely uncharted territory in game development.

Despite these reservations, the team proceeded, resulting in the critically acclaimed The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Now leading Rebel Wolves, Tomaszkiewicz is applying these lessons to their upcoming title, The Blood of Dawnwalker.

Set in an alternate medieval Eastern Europe with a dark fantasy aesthetic, The Blood of Dawnwalker features vampires as central figures. Currently in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, the game is expected to receive a gameplay reveal this summer, though a release date remains unannounced.